ACTION OFFICE

CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Issue No. 14

Quote of the week...

David Blunkett, Home Secretary-"....it is vital to uphold individual

or minority rights, even when the majority view of the community

may be against them".

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LIBERTY BEACONS TO HERALD THE MARCH.

Thousands of giant bonfires will light up the countryside and the

night sky both in Britain and abroad on Monday 16th September in a

blaze of symbolic publicity for the March on Sunday 22nd September.

There will also be a synchronised launching of Livelihood rockets

spreading the message across the country.

Europe, USA, Hong Kong and Australia have pledged support so far -

this is a tangible way that our far-flung supporters can support

the British countryside.

The Liberty Beacons aim to involve every village or town in the UK

to encourage the widest possible attendance, last stage registrations,

and reinforce local community marching spirit.

Watch this space!

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VIGIL ROLL OF HONOUR

Monday 22nd July, Campaign for Falconry

Tuesday 23rd July, Meynell & S Staffordshire

Wednesday 24th July, Grafton

Thursday 25th July, Nat. Coursing Club

Friday 26th July, Cottesmore

Saturday 27th July, Fell Packs

Sunday 28th July, High Peak Harriers

In reply to our call to fill a gap last Saturday ... thanks to

Tim Meredith Hardy, Robert Chugg plus friends, Philip and Sally Baker,

Irena Uderska, Adam Wynne, Carolyn Sharpe, Peter Scrafton, William Eleini

- and the very kind person who appeared with a hamper.

A taxi driver stopped at the vigil last week and said that he had been

told by 'someone in Government' that if they didn't stop hooting their

horns when passing the vigil they would have their licences taken away....

A vigiler arrived at Paddington Station and jumped in a taxi asking him

to drop her at Parliament Sq. "Oh, are you going to the Vigil?", he said!

For the all-important regional press coverage, go to:

http://www.march-info.org/sod/020702press.htm

If a hunt or club near you is going to the Vigil, please keep an eye out

for coverage in the local papers or on local radio - if you see an

article please let the Action Office know.

For latest pictures and news and views from the Vigil please go to:

http://www.march-info.org/sod/vigil/index.html

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ACTION THIS WEEK...

MARCH AWARENESS DAYS, 1st - 4th AUGUST

Orders for promotional material for the march flooded in last week -

2 pallet loads of correx boards were sent out in as many days! Make

the most of these four positive days of action - keep the orders

coming in and lets ensure that by Monday 5th August everyone in the

countryside knows what Sept 22nd is all about.

Contact Action Office by fax or email for more supplies.

Fax: 01367 850426, Email: grassroute@countryside-alliance.org

LAND BANNER

If you have driven along the M4 (nr Junction 15) you may have seen

the first LAND BANNER. Emblazoned across the Wiltshire downs are the

letters L I B E R T Y.

If you have a good site to do the same, let us know and we will tell

you how to do it.

SATURDAY 3rd AUGUST, WORKING DOG EVENT, DORCHESTER

For further details contact John Morris on 01300 341265

or Graeme Lamb at graeme@openspaces.biz

LOCAL VILLAGE VISITS - COTSWOLD HUNT TAKE THE LEAD

As part of their Hunting in the Community scheme and to tie in with

the Summer Campaign, the Cotswold hunt are taking hounds on exercise

to local pubs on a Friday night and Sunday lunchtime. Ideal opportunity

for the public to meet hounds, staff and members of the hunt and

provides a platform to promote and generate support for hunting

and the march.

Could you follow the Cotswolds' lead? For help, please contact

Nicky Driver on 07879 666874

or email nicky-driver@countryside-alliance.org

How many hunts in the UK? OK, so we are expecting at least 300 calls!

We also have numerous details of people taking a float in their local

carnival, taking a stand in their local village fete, taking the

countryside to town or having kennel open days. We all have a role

to play in promoting country sports and the rural way of life -

let us know what you are doing.

For help, advice and information on getting 'active' email the

Action Office: grassroute@countryside-alliance.org

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MARCH NEWS...

Advertise the March on your village website.

www.UKVillages.co.uk was launched in April 2000 and now covers all

27,532 communities across the British mainland with home pages for

every village, town, city and suburb with an average of 2.95 million

'hits' a month. Instructions available by reply button.

(Could the person in Yorkshire who has already done this,

please email us.)

Approx 12000 registered for the March at the Game Fair last weekend -

have you?

Tel: 0900 102 0900

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ACTION LAST WEEK...

Following a hugely successful three days at the CLA Game Fair at

Broadlands in Hampshire the Union of Country Sports Workers has

announced that Clarissa Dickson-Wright and Johnny Scott have agreed

to become Joint-Presidents of the organisation.

Margaret Beckett was inundated with letters last week - we were copied

in on a steady stream of suggestions in reply to her statement that

nobody has ever made plain to her why social life would disappear

if you stopped killing foxes.

WEDNESDAY 24th JULY, VILLAGE FETE, PARLIAMENT SQUARE

Supporters who attended the fete in Parliament Square were treated

to events including a hound show, a tug o' war and dancing around

the maypole...and symbolically brought the country to town, by turfing

the road in front of the vigilers. Countryside workers and supporters

gave interviews and MPs came out to support.

THURSDAY 25th JULY, ANTI-HUNT ROADSHOW LAUNCH, LONDON

To coincide with the launch of the National Anti-hunt roadshow in

London, the Campaign for Hunting released a new report entitled

"Hunting with Dogs...What the Defectors Say". The report looks at the

views of several significant leaders and members of the animal rights

movement spanning thirty years.

For a copy of the report go to:

http://www.countryside-alliance.org/news/02/020725.idl.htm

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ACTION OFFICE CONTACT DETAILS:

Telephone: 01367 850488

Fax: 01367 850426

Email: grassroute@countryside-alliance.org

Web: http://www.march-info.org/sod/index.html